Cervical repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation relieves idiopathic persistent hiccups: A preliminary study of case report.

Objective: We postulated that repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) might treat idiopathic persistent hiccups. This study aimed to determine the clinical effect of rPMS on hiccup alleviation.

Methods: Seven patients with idiopathic persistent hiccups experienced the cervical rPMS session (1 Hz, 656 stimuli) in this prospective clinical series from November 2018 to May 2021. The rPMS session was applied once daily until the hiccups were utterly relieved. During the treatment, the round coil was transversally positioned over the upper nape area, and the center of the coil was placed at the level of the C4 vertebrae. The subjective assessment scale (SAS) scores and the hiccup frequency were assessed before and after rPMS treatment.

Results: A total of 7 patients were enrolled. All were male post-stroke patients ([mean ± SD] age, 58.5 ± 9.85 years) with dysphasia, 3 patients (3/7) were fed with a nasogastric tube, and 4 patients (4/7) were with dysarthria. The mean duration of hiccups was 4.14 ± 3.63 days (range 2-12 days). The rPMS therapy eliminated hiccups in all 7 patients. The mean sessions which stopped hiccupping were 3.43 ± 2.57 (range 1-9). The mean value of the SAS scores before rPMS therapy was 7 ± 1 (range 6-8), and it was decreased to zero after the therapy (0). No recurrence of hiccups was observed within 2 weeks of the last rPMS session. rPMS therapies were not associated with severe adverse effects.

Conclusion: The cervical rPMS therapy is beneficial in treating idiopathic persistent hiccups, particularly in post-stroke patients.